PREACHED BEFORE THE SOCIETY FOR REFORMATION OF MANNERS ON SUNDAY,
4. Nor is it to individuals only, whether those who betray others into sin, or those that are liable to be betrayed and destroyed by them, that the
benefit of this design redounds; but to the whole community whereof we are members. For is it not a sure observation, “Righteousness exalteth a nation?” And is it not as sure, on the other hand, that “sin is a reproach to
any people,” yea, and bringeth down the curse of God upon them? So far, therefore, as righteousness, in any branch, is promoted, so far is the national interest advanced. So far as sin, especially open sin, is restrained, the curse and reproach are removed from us. Whoever, therefore, they are that labor herein, they are general benefactors; they are the truest friends of their king and country. And in the same proportion as their design takes place there can be no doubt but God will give national prosperity, in accomplishment of his faithful word, “Them that honor me I will honor.”
5. But it is objected, “However excellent a design this is, it does not concern you. For are there not persons to whom the repressing these offenses, and punishing the offenders, properly belong? Are there not Constables, and other Parish Officers, who are bound by oath to this very thing?” There are. Constables and Churchwardens, in particular, are engaged by solemn oaths to give due information against profaners of the Lord’s day, and all other scandalous sinners. But if they leave it undone,
— if, notwithstanding their oaths, they trouble not themselves about the matter, it concerns all that fear God, that love mankind, and that wish well to their king and country, to pursue this design with the very same vigor as if there were no Officers existing; it being just the same thing, if they are of no use, as if they had no being.
6. “But this is only a pretense: Their real design is to get money by giving informations.” So it has frequently and roundly been affirmed; but without the least shadow of truth. The contrary may be proved by a thousand instances: No member of the Society takes any part of the money which is by the law allotted to the informer. They never did from the beginning; nor does any of them ever receive anything to suppress or withdraw their information. This is another mistake, if not willful slander, for which there is not the least foundation.
7. “But the design is impracticable. Vice is risen to such a head, that it is impossible to suppress it; especially by such means. For what can a handful of poor people do, in opposition to all the world?” “With men this is impossible, but not with God.” And they trust not in themselves, but Him. Be then the patrons of vice ever so strong, to Him they are no more than grasshoppers. And all means are alike to him: It is the same thing with God “to deliver by many or by few.” The small number,
therefore, of those who are on the Lord’s side, is nothing, neither the great number of those that are against him. Still He doeth whatever pleaseth him; and “there is no counsel nor strength against the Lord.”
8. “But if the end you aim at be really to reform sinners, you choose the wrong means. It is the word of God must effect this, and not human laws;
and it is the work of Ministers, not of Magistrates; therefore, the applying to these can only produce an outward reformation; it makes no change in the heart.”
It is true the word of God is the chief, ordinary means, whereby he changes both the hearts and lives of sinners; and he does this chiefly by the Ministers of the gospel. But it is likewise true, that the Magistrate is
“the minister of God;” and that he is designed of God to be “a terror to evil-doers,” by executing human laws upon them. If this does not change the heart; yet, to prevent outward sin is one valuable point gained. There is so much the less dishonor done to God; less scandal brought on our holy religion; less curse and reproach upon our nation; less temptation laid in the way of others; yea, and less wrath heaped up by the sinners
themselves against the day of wrath.
9. “Nay, rather more; for it makes many of them hypocrites, pretending to be what they are not. Others, by exposing them to shame, and putting them to expense, are made impudent and desperate in wickedness: So that, in reality, none of them are any better, if they are not worse, than they were before.”
This is a mistake all over. For,
(1.) Where are these hypocrites? We know none who have pretended to be what they were not.
(2.) The exposing obstinate offenders to shame, and putting them to expense, does not make them desperate in offending, but afraid to offend.
(3.) Some of them, far from being worse, are substantially better; the whole tenor of their lives being changed. Yea,
(4.) Some are inwardly changed, even “from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.”
10. “But many are not convinced that buying or selling on the Lord’s day is a sin.”
If they are not convinced, they ought to be, it is high time they should.
The case is as plain as plain can be. For if an open, willful breach both of the law of God and the law of the land is not sin, pray what is? And if such a breach both of divine and human laws is not to be punished,
because a man is not convinced it is a sin, there is an end of all execution of justice, and all men may live as they list!
11. “But mild methods ought to be tried first.” They ought: And so they are. A mild admonition is given to every offender, before the law is put in execution against him; nor is any man prosecuted, till he has express notice, that this will be the case unless he will prevent that prosecution by removing the cause of it. In every case, the mildest method is used which the nature of the case will bear; nor are severer means ever applied, but when they are absolutely necessary to the end.
12. “Well, but after all this stir about reformation, what real good has been done?” Unspeakable good; and abundantly more than any one could have expected in so short a time, considering the small number of the
instruments, and the difficulties they had to encounter. Much evil has been already prevented, and much has been removed. Many sinners have been outwardly reformed; some have been inwardly changed. The honor of Him whose name we bear, so openly affronted, has been openly defended. And it is not easy to determine, how many and how great blessings, even this little stand, made for God and his cause, against his daring enemies, may already have derived upon our whole nation. On the whole, then, after all the objections that can be made, reasonable men may still conclude, a more excellent design could scarce ever enter into the heart of man.